World Citizen Band

24 maja 2017 @ 20:30 - 23:00

Wydarzenie Nawigacja

The World Citizen Band is an international contemporary jazz ensemble that originated in Berlin Germany in 2011. The band gathers musicians from all over the world with the intention of uniting different cultures through music. They are… Alex Terrier – Saxophone (France), Tomasz Dąbrowski – Trumpet (Poland), Ramiro Olaciregui – Guitar (Argentina), Marcos Merino – Piano (Spain), Kenneth Dahl Knudsen – Contrabass (Denmark), Rodolfo Zuniga – Drums (Costa Rica).

This group began as a collaboration between guitarist Ramiro Olaciregui & bassist Kenneth Dahl Knudsen. After migrating to Germany in 2011 with the wish of expanding their musical boundaries, Olaciregui & Knudsen rapidly established themselves within the Berlin jazz scene as leaders of several groups under their own names. When asked to participate in the Ecuador Jazz Festival, the 2 musicians decided to join efforts and create the World Citizen Band. The name of this group makes reference to the current situation of a large number of musical communities over the world, in which the constant interaction between musicians of different nationalities becomes growingly evident. The 6 members of this group all have a nomadic lifestyle, for all have migrated from their country of origin in search for a broader view and understanding of the ever changing musical world of jazz. It is fair to say that they are all “citizens of the world”.

★ Alex Terrier – was born in Paris, France, in 1980. He didn’t grow up in a musical environment, but “the day I sat down to the piano was the 1st step to a lifelong journey into the world of music” Alex says. After studying classical piano for several years, Terrier heard Duke Ellington and gravitated towards jazz, which he has maintained as his major style and influence to this day. Alex currently lives in New York and has become the 1st French musician to be part of the legendary Mingus Big Band. He’s a multifaceted musician for he is a band leader, composer, arranger and performer. His latest record features piano legend Kenny Barron.

★ Tomasz Dąbrowski – is an award winning Polish trumpeter and composer settled in Copenhagen, Denmark. With 4 albums released under his own name and dozens of CD’s as a co-leader and sideman, he is considered on of the most gifted trumpeters in Europe. Several projects include collaborations with Tyshawn Sorey, Kris Davis, Greg Osby, Aaron Parks, Avishai Cohen, Jonathan Blake and Andrew Dury. Several of these recordings received raving reviews internationally. Thomas is a member of the Danish record label Barefoot Records.

★ Ramiro Olaciregui – Argentinian born guitarist, currently resides in Berlin and is quickly making a name for himself among the European Jazz community. After graduating the Escuela de Musica Contemporanea (EMC) Buenos Aires, he moved to Boston to obtain his Degree from Berklee College of Music (2006). Afterwards he moves to New York, city in which he lived for a period of 3 years. Both in Boston and New York Ramiro collaborated with some of the strongest names in Jazz today, such as Jimmy Heath, Bob Mintzer, George Garzone, Seamus Blake, Chris Tordini, Tom Kennedy, & John Escreet. For the past 10 years Olaciregui has participated in festivals around the world both as a sideman and leader, some include (IAJE) Festival New York USA, Mira Jazz Fest Argentina, Ecuador Jazz Fest.

★ Marcos Merino – is a pianist and composer originally from Spain, currently residing in Quito, Ecuador. He began his musical studies at age 7 in Fuengirola and later in life moved to Barcelona to study in the Liceu Conservatory, from which he graduated in 2011. He later finished his Masters Degree in North Texas University. Aside from being the youngest member of the WCB, he has toured Spain, Asia, USA and South America both as a sideman and leader. In 2013 Marcos was invited to participate in the “Promising Artists of the 21st Century” program in which he toured with his trio to China and Colombia. Together with his performing career, he’s also a full time professor in the “Universidad de las Americas” in Ecuador.

★ Kenneth Dahl Knudsen – Danish Bassist was awarded Jazz musician of the year 2010 in his region. The same year, he released the Album „Strings Attached”. An album that have received 5 star reviews. In January 2012 he recorded his 2nd Album „Clockstopper” in New York with Tomasz Dabrowski, Jaleel Shaw,Jonas Lindh, Gilad Hekselman, Soren Moller, og Johnathan Blake. The music is controlled by impulses, and its composed ensemble music with strong elements of improvisation and interaction. A strong Scandinavian heritage grasp an ensemble, that streches to all the corners of the world. Knudsen has performed with : John Scofield, Dick Oatts, Gilad Hekselman, Johnathan Blake, Tomasz Dabrowski, Uffe Steen, Soren Moller and many more.

★ Rodolfo Zuniga – is a drummer & composer born in San Jose, Costa Rica. After arriving to the United States in the year 2000, he has become one of the most renowned drummers in the Miami jazz scene. He has performed with a wide variety of musicians such as Gary Campbell, Silvano Monasterios, Troy Roberts, Martin Bejerano, Aaron Lebos, among others. Currently he’s also a member of the world famous “Julio Iglesias Group” with which he tours around the world. Zuniga is without a doubt one of the most versatile drummers today and is an essential element in the overall sound of the World Citizen Band.